350 animals found living in home

RSPCA staff are examining 352 animals found living at "residential premises".

Officials said the animals - which included 131 dogs, 48 cats, 80 rabbits and 86 guinea pigs - were discovered at a property in Cromer, Norfolk, on Monday.

A spokeswoman said a person had been cautioned by the RSPCA following the discovery.

She said vets were now examining the animals at a holding centre.

"The holding centre has been set up to deal with the animals," the spokeswoman said. "Staff have been working around the clock.

"Due to the condition in which they were found some of the animals are likely to be euthanised."

The RSPCA has not given the precise location of where the animals were found and the spokeswoman would not say whether they were living in a house or on a farm.

More details were expected to be released later.

She added: "It is too early to say whether any of the animals will be available for rehoming."

Investigation under way

Officials said an investigation was now under way and inspectors were gathering evidence about the background to the discovery of the animals.

The spokeswoman would not say whether the person cautioned was a man or a woman.

But she said the caution amounted only to a warning that an investigation was under way and a criminal prosecution might follow.

The spokeswoman added: "We don't keep records in terms of numbers of animals in these situations but it's fair to say that this is one of the biggest numbers of animals we have ever found at one location in these circumstances in the UK."